Painting and Graphic Works of P. I. Emchegirova, 1930s–1950s: A Case Study of Museum and Family Collections

Abstract

Goals. The article aims at examining visual arts of pre-war Kalmykia and the deportation period (1943‒1957) through the example of P. I. Emchegirova (1907–1992) ― first ethnic Kalmyk female painter ― and her works. The artistic path remains understudied and is of special interest due to a unique nature of art pieces. Studies of the cultural heritage are complicated by the absence of documents and archival sources completely lost during the Siberian deportation. Materials and Methods. The work analyzes paintings, drawings and pieces of applied art created by P. I. Emchegirova virtually for over half a century and stored at the Palmov National Museum of Kalmykia, State Vladimir Suzdal Museum Reserve, and in family archives. The analysis of artistic images created by P. I. Emchegirova involves methods of art history, cultural studies, and ethnology. Results. The paper introduces data on previously unknown works of the visual artist that significantly extend the thematic range developed by Kalmyks painters in the 1930s–1950s, reveal ethnic specifics in P. I. Emchegirova’s activities, and deepen the understanding of local arts as an integral part to 20th-century Kalmykia’s history and culture. The study also attempts at historical and cultural reconstructions to somewhat restore lost fine arts, which may classify the former as an interdisciplinary research. There are also some data on the painter’s heritage from 1957 onwards.